Local youth get a chance to shine at Mahalia Jackson Theater

More than 500 students from seven local public schools in Orleans and Jefferson parishes have been selected to perform at the fifth annual Young Audiences Winter Spotlight to be held Thursday, December 13, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts. The performance is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and is on a first-come, first served basis.

“We realize the tremendous talent of the students we work with every day,” says artistic director Roscoe Reddix, Jr., Young Audiences’ Director of Arts Integration. “This spotlight allows them to share their gifts with the rest of our community.”

The one-night event will spotlight children from seven Young Audiences afterschool programs in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Highlights include marching bands from Martin Behrman Charter Academy for the Creative Arts and Sciences, O. Perry Walker High School, and William J. Fischer Accelerated Academy; African dance and drum and ballet from Woodmere Elementary and Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy of Global Studies; Brazilian dance, steel pan, choir, hip-hop dance and ballet from Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts; and a cheerleading performance from Marrero Middle School.

Since 1962, Young Audiences of Louisiana has delivered innovative arts-based programs to children throughout the state and in November 2012, was granted authorization to open the first arts-integrated charter school in Jefferson Parish. “This charter school will allow Young Audiences to expand our vision of creating academic programs that connect the joys of discovery and creativity to provide students with the 21st-century skills they need for success,”,says Young Audiences Executive Director Rickie Nutik. “This Winter Spotlight gives families a chance to preview the quality of artistic programs that our new school will offer.”

Young Audiences Charter School will be a tuition-free public charter school, open to every child in Jefferson Parish. Young Audiences Charter will open for the 2013-14 school year with grades K-3, growing one grade per year until it is a full K-8 elementary/middle school.

In addition to the new school initiative, Young Audiences’ will continue to serve students, teachers and families with afterschool programs, artist residencies, performance demonstrations and professional development training at schools throughout the state. Visit www.ya4la.org for a complete list of programs or to request more information.

This article was originally published in the December 10, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper